Kuskokwim Subsistence Fishing Restrictions “Simplified”

With the latest release of State Emergency Order #3-S-WR-04-15 (see below) subsistence fishing restriction have become a “little” more clear for the entire drainage. I have attempted to summarize them below (in my own words) to proved clarification. Please always refer to the Federal Special Actions and State Emergency Orders for specific detail.

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Starting at 6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 11, 2015 the entire Kuskokwim River from the mouth to the headwaters, subsistence salmon fishing will close and subsistence fishing will be restricted to the use of set gillnets with 4-inch or less mesh size not to exceed 60 feet in length and 45 meshes deep, on the following dates:

Entire River (Federal & State waters) Schedule:

· 6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 11 until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, June 14;

6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 18 until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, June 21;

Middle and Upper River (State waters) Schedule:

6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 25 until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, June 28;

6:00 a.m. Thursday, July 2 until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, July 5.

**In State waters these nets must be set so that no part of which may be operated more than 100 feet from the ordinary high water mark. This is not a requirement in Federal Waters.

Drift gillnet fishing of any sort is closed, for the entire Kuskokwim except above the mouth of the Holitna River which closes starting at 6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 11, 2015.

Subsistence fishing with hook and line for Chinook salmon will closed upstream of the Holitna River mouth starting at 6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 11, 2015. This means the entire Kuskokwim River (and its salmon tributaries) will be closed to hook and line subsistence fishing for Chinook on that date. Any Chinook salmon caught while fishing for other species must be returned alive to the water.

Subsistence fishing with dip nets will be allowed, until further notice. Any Chinook salmon caught in a dip net must be returned immediately to the water alive.

Subsistence fishing with fish wheels will be allowed, until further notice. Fish wheels are required to have a live box with no less than 45 cubic feet of water, must be checked at least every 6 hours. Fish wheels can be equipped with a chute and must be closely attended while in operation. All Chinook salmon must be returned alive to the water.